Rule.



J. M. MIDDLETON.

RULE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. :1. 1915.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

.WETED e as; ares @EEEQ JOHN M. MIDDLETON, or SAVANNAH, Guonein.

RULE.

1 access.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Application filed February 11, 1915. Serial a... 7,546.

This invention relates to folding rules and,

the like and has for its object the produc-' tion of a simpl andefiicient means whereby a center is produced upon the rule along the oneinch mark to permit the operator to place his dividers upon the rule inan efiicient manner .to set the dividers at the proper gage withoutinjuring the rule or marring the face thereof.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple andefiicient plug which is adapted to be placed within the rule to permitthe dividers to be readily set therein for the purpose of obtaining thedesired gage.

With these and other objects in View this invention consists of certainnovel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a plan view of the rule. Fig. 2is a perspective view of one end of the rule in a folded position. Fig.3 is an enlarged sectional view through the rule showing the manner inwhich the plug is placed therein. Fig. i is a detail perspective of theplug detached from the rule.

Referring to the drawing it will be seen that 1 designates the body ofthe rule which may be formed in any desiredmanner, such as for instanceas a folding rule, straight edge rule, square, or other suitableinstrument without departing from the spirit of the invention. The body1 is provided with a transversely extending aperture 2, within which isplaceda metallic plug 3 preferably formed of brass or other suitablemate rial for accomplishing the desired result. The plug 3 is providedat each end thereof with inwardly extending conical sockets 4, whichsockets i have their side walls. extending at a slight angle to producea shallow socket at each end of the plug. The side walls of the socketat terminate short of the periphery of the plug 3 so as to produce aflat marginal edge 5 along the side edges of the dividers.

thereof which marginal edges 5 are adapted to fit flush with therespective top and bottom edges of the body 1 of the rule. It should beunderstood that the plug 3 is placed within the aperture 2 formed in therule ata proper distance along the first-longitudinally extending linefor indicating the inner end of the sixteenth inch marks upon the edgeof therule, andit should be unden stoodthat the plug 3 is also placedalong any line with the one inch mark 6 of the rule clearly illustratedin Fig. 2 and also in Fig. 1, so as to have the apex 7 of the conicalsocket 4 direct in line with the one inch mark.

It is a well known fact and well recognized that all users of a rule formeasuring or obtaining the desired gage by means of a pair of dividerswill begin from the one inch mark upon the rule owing to the fact thatthe edge or end of the rule very often becomes worn or injured, and inthis manner will result in an inaccurate measurement. By placing theplug 3, however, upon the one inch mark this difliculty may be overcome,and it should be further understood that the socket 4 by being formedvery shallow and having the apex 7 thereof in direct alinement with theone inch mark, the point of the dividers may be readily seated thereinin order to have a substantial anchor for the dividers while the properdistance or gage is obtained by spreading the respective arms It shouldbe further understood that owing to the fact that the sockets 4 areformed very shallow, the dividers can be spread quite a distance andwill have the points thereof register withthe apex of the socket & whichis a very essential point, for if the points of the dividers were toengage the side walls of the socket lan inaccurate measurement wouldresult.v The inclination of the sides will cause the point of thediwooden portion of the rule.

It should be borne in mind that the present device may be applied to anysuitable instrument, geometrical instruments, such as a rule, square, orother measuring device wherein an' anchoring means is used, and itshould be understood thatthe present device is susceptible ofbeingapplied direct to a Wooden rule Withoutthe necessity of addingconsiderable Weight or additional expense in constructing the rule, andin this manner I purpose of renewing the plug should one of I p theplugs becomeinjured.

Havingthus described the invention What is claimed as new, 1s:v r

As a new article of manufacture, a Wooden rule provided with a pluralityof graduationsformed near the side edge thereof, a

also provided With a flat rim adjacent the periphery thereofisaid rimadapted to extendfiush With the outer faces of said rule.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

v 1 JOHN M. MIDDLETON Witnesses: l V G. 'B. BACHE,

It; HEWLETT.

. Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

I Washington, 11.0.- r

